Darline Graham Nordone (née Darlene Graham[a]; born June 12, 1964)[1] is an American public administrator and politician who is the junior United States senator from South Carolina.
Darline Graham | |
|---|---|
.png) Graham in 2026 | |
| United States Senator from South Carolina | |
| Assumed office July 14, 2026 | |
| Appointed by | Henry McMaster |
| Preceded by | Lindsey Graham |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Darlene Graham June 12, 1964 |
| Party | Republican |
| Spouse | Larry Nordone |
| Children | 2 |
| Relatives | Lindsey Graham (brother) |
| Education | College of Charleston (BS) South Carolina State University (MA) |
| Website | Senate website |
Following the death of her brother, Senator Lindsey Graham, Darline Graham was appointed to finish his term and took office on July 14, 2026. She is the first woman to represent South Carolina in the United States Senate.
Early life and education
editDarlene Graham[2] was born in Central, South Carolina.[3][4] Her parents operated the Sanitary Cafe—a restaurant, bar, liquor store and pool hall—and the family lived in rooms behind the business.[3] Her mother died of cancer when Graham was 11, and her father died from a heart attack 15 months later.[5][6] After their deaths, Graham's brother, Lindsey, arranged for her to live with her aunt and uncle in Seneca, South Carolina. About nine years her senior, Lindsey became her legal guardian before joining the Air Force.[7][8] He taught her to spell her first name "Darline", a spelling she continues to use in adulthood.[2]
She graduated from the College of Charleston with a Bachelor of Science in sociology in 1989.[9] She also earned a Master of Arts in rehabilitation counseling from South Carolina State University in 2009.[10][11]
Career
editPolitical involvement
editIn 2002, Graham appeared in a television advertisement for Lindsey's campaign in that year's US Senate election.[12] She continued to assist in his subsequent campaigns, discussing her childhood in 2014[8] and 2026.[13] Graham supported her brother's campaign for President of the United States in the 2016 election, introducing him in his first campaign speech.[14]
In 2008, she began working for the South Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation Department. She helped coordinate a work-from-home program for adults with severe disabilities for Time Warner.[15] By 2015, she was the Department's public information director.[16]
South Carolina Commission for the Blind
editIn 2019, Graham became commissioner and agency head of the South Carolina Commission for the Blind, which administers vocational rehabilitation, independent-living and blindness-prevention programs for South Carolinians who are blind or have low vision. She also serves on the South Carolina State Workforce Development Board and its SC Works Management Committee. In 2026, she was president-elect of the National Council of State Agencies for the Blind, with her term starting in January 2027.[9]
U.S. Senate (2026–present)
edit
South Carolina senator Tim Scott spoke to Graham after Lindsey's death on July 11, 2026.[17] On July 13, President Donald Trump endorsed Graham to fill the Senate seat.[18] That day, South Carolina governor Henry McMaster appointed Graham.[19] She was sworn in on July 14.[20] She is the first woman to represent South Carolina in the US Senate[21] and is the first sibling to replace a deceased senator.[22] Graham has not stated whether she intends to run in an election to a full term.[23]
Personal life
editGraham lives in Lexington, South Carolina, with her husband, Larry Nordone.[24] They have two daughters.[3]
See also
editReferences
edit- ↑ United States Congress. "GRAHAM, Darline (id: G000608)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved July 14, 2026.
- 1 2 Ball, Molly (June 10, 2014). "How Lindsey Graham Stomped the Tea Party". The Atlantic. Archived from the original on April 10, 2026. Retrieved July 13, 2026.
- 1 2 3 Baker, Mike (July 13, 2026). "From a Young Age, Graham and His Sister Had a Tight Bond". The New York Times. Retrieved July 13, 2026.
- ↑ Davenport, Jim; Adcox, Seanna (June 2, 2008). "South Carolina Senate GOP primary is 'David and Goliath'". The Beaufort Gazette. Associated Press. Archived from the original on June 6, 2008. Retrieved July 13, 2026.
- ↑ Binday, Ben (July 13, 2026). "Darline Graham Nordone has little political history beyond praising her brother". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved July 14, 2026.
- ↑ Summers, Juana (May 31, 2015). "5 things you should know about Lindsey Graham". NPR. Archived from the original on July 4, 2017. Retrieved July 14, 2026.
- ↑ Blair, Caroline (July 13, 2026). "Who Is Lindsey Graham's Sister? What to Know About Darline Graham Nordone". People. Archived from the original on July 13, 2026. Retrieved July 13, 2026.
- 1 2 Self, Jamie (May 20, 2014). "Lindsey Graham's sister discusses childhood, losing parents in senator's new campaign ads". The State. Archived from the original on October 1, 2020. Retrieved July 13, 2026.
- 1 2 Byrd, Caitlin (July 13, 2026). "Who is Darline Graham? Lindsey Graham's sister and South Carolina's interim US senator". The Post and Courier. Retrieved July 14, 2026.
- ↑ Santaella, Tony (July 13, 2026). "Who is Darline Graham? Meet the woman appointed to temporarily fill Lindsey Graham's U.S. Senate seat". WLTX. Retrieved July 13, 2026.
- ↑ "Darline Graham, Senator for South Carolina". United States Senate. Archived from the original on July 14, 2026. Retrieved July 14, 2026.
- ↑ Bauerlein, Valerie (October 14, 2002). "Senate hopefuls take different TV ad angles". The State. Retrieved July 13, 2026.
- ↑ Lowenkron, Hadriana; Wasson, Erik (July 13, 2026). "Trump Recommends Graham's Sister Serve Out His Senate Term". Bloomberg News. Retrieved July 13, 2026.
- ↑ Asberry, Derrek (June 1, 2015). "Sen. Lindsey Graham: 'I want to be president'". Aiken Standard. Retrieved July 13, 2026.
- ↑ Reid, Czerne (July 18, 2008). "New program offers 'another chance at life'". The State. p. 32. Retrieved July 13, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Austin Industrial Honored". Aiken Standard. June 2, 2015. p. 9. Retrieved July 15, 2026 – via NewspaperArchive.
- ↑ Garrett, Major; Gómez, Fin; Riggins, Jenna; Watson, Kathryn; Yilek, Caitlin (July 13, 2026). "Darline Graham Nordone, Lindsey Graham's sister, appointed to serve out his Senate term". CBS News. Archived from the original on July 13, 2026. Retrieved July 13, 2026.
- ↑ Koseff, Alexei; Zakrzewski, Cat (July 13, 2026). "Trump recommends that Lindsey Graham's sister serve rest of his Senate term". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on July 13, 2026. Retrieved July 13, 2026.
- ↑ Shabad, Rebecca; Coronell Uribe, Raquel (July 13, 2026). "South Carolina governor appoints Lindsey Graham's sister to finish his Senate term". NBC News. Retrieved July 13, 2026.
- ↑ Popat, Shrai (July 14, 2026). "Darline Graham, sister of Lindsey Graham, sworn in to fulfill his Senate term". The Guardian. Retrieved July 14, 2026.
- ↑ Hubbard, Kaia (July 14, 2026). "Darline Graham, Lindsey Graham's sister, sworn in to serve the remainder of Senate term". CBS News. Retrieved July 14, 2026.
- ↑ Huiskes, Helen (July 14, 2026). "Darline Graham, sister of late Sen. Lindsey Graham, sworn in as senator". The Hill. Retrieved July 14, 2026.
- ↑ Matza, Max (July 13, 2026). "Lindsey Graham's sister chosen as replacement after senator's death". BBC. Archived from the original on July 14, 2026. Retrieved July 14, 2026.
- ↑ Ward, Jon (June 1, 2015). "Lindsey Graham announces presidential candidacy, highlighting his personal story". Yahoo.com. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved July 13, 2026.